Androsexuality, or androphilia, is defined as an attraction to men or masculinity. This attraction is not limited to a specific sexual orientation. For example, a heterosexual woman, a homosexual man, or a non-binary individual who feels attracted to men can all be considered androsexual, as they share a common interest in men or masculine qualities. The term can have different interpretations:
- Exclusive attraction to men, encompassing people like straight women, gay men, and non-binary individuals drawn to men, also known as maseksueel;
- Attraction to individuals who present masculinely, regardless of their actual gender, sometimes called minseksueel.
A third definition involving attraction to “male anatomy” is generally seen as transphobic, as it reduces individuals to their physical traits and disregards gender identity.
Lucia always knew that her attraction wasn’t confined to traditional labels. She felt drawn to masculine energy, whether it came from cisgender men, trans men, or non-binary individuals with a masculine presentation. When she discovered the term androsexual, Lucia finally found a way to describe her experience. One evening, at a gathering with her LGBTQ+ friends, Lucia shared, “I guess I’m not just attracted to men, but to masculinity itself.” Her friend Javier, who identified similarly, nodded and said, “Exactly, it’s about that energy and presence.” This realization helped Lucia communicate her attraction in a way that felt true to her experience. She could explain it more confidently when meeting new people and engaging in conversations about identity. Recognizing herself as androsexual gave Lucia a sense of belonging in spaces where traditional labels felt limiting, allowing her to celebrate her attraction without needing to fit into one box.
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Source: https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Androsexual | Creator: Unknown . This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license